I don't have "Zod" rune, and i doubt, that i'll have it. I found it once in lifetime long ago :D . So its might merc with reapers, or might merc with pride, i guess.
Use your non-eth reaper on swap, just for the rare occasions you'll see a unique phys immune you wont need to skip it.
You really don't need cta on a shifter with that huge bonus life you get from lycanthropy and metamorphosis.
Waiting for merc to proc decrep on a build that won't be repositioning him with tele is a very sad story.
Might + pride both have a very large radius, that merc is gonna constantly support you even if he runs after you 2 screens away.
You'll swap to reaper side the equivalent of once per the duration of BO if you avoid zones with phys immunes, approximately the same number of swaps as using cta, just way more practical overall
